“A GODLY WOMAN”
SELECTED SCRIPTURES

I. Introduction
“Godly” is an interesting word, isn’t it? Have you ever known a woman whom you have thought of as godly? Have you ever referred to someone as a “godly woman” and been asked to define what you meant by the use of the word?

I can think of women I’ve known over the course of my sixty-eight years whom I have referred to as being truly godly. When I’ve said that, I’ve never been challenged. No one has ever asked me, “What do you mean by that?” Maybe it’s a good thing. Upon reflec-tion I think I may have had a hard time trying to clearly define the word. So what does godly, when used of a woman, or a man, or a child, for that matter, really mean?

Webster’s New World Dictionary defines it two ways. The first is, “of or from God; divine.” The second is, “devoted to God; pious; devout; religious.” Although those are essentially secular definitions of the word “godly,” they’re probably the way most of us would define it. But how does God define it? What do the Hebrew and Greek words that we translate into English mean? They’ll give us the real meaning of godly, won’t they? They will tell us precisely what it means when God uses the word.

In the OT the Hebrew word translated “godly” in English is “châçîyd.” (khaw-seed´) A Hebrew-English dictionary defines the godly person as one who is merciful. It goes on to explain that this mercy is seen in two traits – kindness and benevolence.

Who is such a person, or more specifically, who is such a woman? First and foremost,
even though non-Christians may at times be kind and giving, “godly” is never applied to unbelievers in the OT. When the OT uses the word, God is speaking of His children.
Psalm 4:3a; 97:10a; 116:15
3a But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself…
10a Hate evil, you who love the LORD, who preserves the souls of His godly ones…
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly ones.

The most prominent examples of godliness in the OT are God’s priests, God’s prophets, and prophetically speaking, God’s Messiah, the Christ. The word “châçîyd” is used to describe them all. They were all set apart by God. They all hated evil. And they were all taken into God’s presence. So the OT teaches that a godly woman is set apart by God, hates evil, and when it is her time, she is lovingly taken into His presence.

Therefore, by definition, a godly woman must first be a Christian. And because every Christian has a new nature, that nature must be on display. Godly women are called to be examples to those around them. We learn that from the OT. Does the NT say more?
Yes it does! In the NT the Greek word most often translated “godly” is “ĕusĕbēs.” (yoo-seb-ace´) It literally means well-directed reverence. The word defines a person who reveres God and respects people. So a woman who worships God and honors the innate worth of other people is described as “ĕusĕbēs.”

In the NT the word is sometimes used to describe the misguided and false reverence of unbelievers, but it’s never used as a mark of true spirituality. While some people are sin-cere in their worship of a man-made god, it’s false worship because it has nothing to do with the God of the Bible. It has no power because God is not in it. They’re merely “…holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power…(2 Timothy 3:5).”
Therefore, it’s impossible for an unbeliever to be godly as Scripture defines the term.

When “ĕusĕbēs” is applied to a believing woman, we know that she is godly in His sight. Both her attitude and the way she conducts her life are acceptable to God.
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II. Text
With those fundamental truths as our starting point let’s consider what it means to be a godly Christian woman. Who is she? How does she live out her life as a godly woman?

Many of the Scripture references we’ll look at apply to all Christians, male or female. So it may appear I am playing fast and loose with the intent of the Scriptures. But I hope you all know I would never do that. However, since we are talking specifically about women today, I would ask your indulgence as I adjust a few pronouns in some of the passages we’ll look into this morning. It will be obvious when I do so.

We have already seen that a godly woman is first a Christian woman.
*John 3:3, 36
3 (Jesus said)…“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, (she) cannot see the kingdom of God.”
36 “(She) who believes in the Son has eternal life; but (she) who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on (her).”

A godly woman has been born again into a new life in Christ. She obeys Him and His Word. This obedience is possible because she has repented and trusted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Therefore, she has been made spiritually alive by the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any (woman) is in Christ, (she) is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.

1 John 4:13
13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

Because of the indwelling presence of God’s Spirit, a new lifestyle has become evident.
A godly woman does things that an ungodly woman has no interest in doing. A godly woman has a sincere desire to know God better. She wants to embrace truth and shun error. So she reads her Bible and she prays. She strives to obey Peter’s directive.
2 Peter 3:17-18
17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness,
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In this world there are few things anyone can do (regardless of gender) that will have more eternal benefits than growing in grace and knowledge. One way that happens is the culti-vation of a rigorous prayer life. Jesus makes an astounding promise to His “godly ones.”
*John 14:13-14
13 “And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”

It should be immediately obvious that these verses can be grossly distorted and misused. What is Jesus teaching here? It may be better to ask what Jesus is not teaching here. He is not teaching what so many television evangelists and faith-healers say He is. He does not endorse the false teaching of today’s “Word-Faith Movement,” more popularly known as “name it and claim it theology.” There is no biblical foundation for that.

Tacking the phrase, “…in Jesus’ name we pray” on the end of a prayer is not some sort magic spell we throw in to make it work. If you ask God for something that is contrary to His sovereign will, saying, “…in Jesus’ name we pray” will not force God to change His mind. “In Jesus’ name” is your acknowledgement that His name defines everything He is, everything He does, and that you are going to God solely in the merits of His Son.

First, a Christian should always go to prayer in the merits of Christ and Christ alone. This is because we, in and of ourselves, possess no merit with which to approach God. We don’t pridefully push the door open and bull our way into God’s throne room. He graciously opens the door and allows us to come in and humbly kneel before Him.

Second, a Christian should never pray for his or her personal will to be accomplished. A Christian should always pray for the will of God to be accomplished. Our prayer should be that our will conforms to God’s, not that His will conforms to ours. (repeat)

Third, a Christian’s prayer must always be for God’s glory and God’s glory alone. It must not be for the purpose of glorifying ourselves in any way.

When those three criteria are met – going to God in the merits of Christ, praying for His will to be done, and humbly seeking God’s glory in all of it – then Jesus’ promise in John 14:14 will be seen. That’s what praying “in Jesus’ name” means. Then and only then, He says, “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
So a godly woman grows in the grace and knowledge of God, and a godly woman is a praying woman. She prays in Jesus’ name and all that it means. In that process she labors to leave her old life behind, conform her habits and her desires to those things that are taught in Scripture, and walk with God.
*Ephesians 4:17
17 This I say therefore, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind…

In vv. 22-27 Paul goes on to list at least six things that are indicative of conforming one-self to life in Christ – laying aside the old self (v. 22), renewing your mind (v. 23), putting on the new self (v. 24), speaking truth (v. 25), being angry but not sinning (v. 26), and not giving Satan an opportunity (v. 27). Paul sums up the godly life in the rest of the chapter.
*Ephesians 4:29-32
29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Being kind to one another! That takes us right back to what the OT says about godliness, doesn’t it? Such kindness emanates from a merciful heart. It reflects God’s kindness to us. It’s clear that we don’t deserve His mercy, but He graciously bestows it on us any-way. In return, He expects us to be merciful. He expects us to be kind and benevolent to others. When that’s combined with a sincere reverence for God and a genuine love for people, the presence of biblical godliness is there for all to see.

Now look at the first few verses of Ephesians 5, where Paul defines godliness in practi-cal terms. It imitates God (v. 1), it walks in love (v. 2), and it avoids immorality, impurity, greed, filthiness, and silly talk (vv. 3-4). (The Greek word from which “silly talk” is trans-lated is “mōrŏlŏgia.” Its literal meaning is “moron talking.”)

If she is married, a godly woman will allow her husband to be the head of the home. “…let the wife see to it that she respect her husband (Ephesians 5:33b).” And if she is unmarried a godly woman will marry only a Christian man. “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14)?”

Finally, when she stumbles or fails in any of these things, a godly woman will confess her sin because…
1 John 1:9
9 If (she) confesses (her) sins, (God) is faithful and righteous to forgive (her) sins and to cleanse (her) from all unrighteousness.

All of those things tell us who a godly woman is. She is born-again, she is filled with the Spirit, she is growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ, she is praying, and she is walking with God.

But what does a godly woman do? That is to say, how does she live out her life? For one thing, she will participate in a Bible-believing church. That participation will include water baptism and communion with Christ in the Lord’s Supper. A godly woman will use the gifts God has given her in service to Him. Within the context of her church she will do what she can to see that the gospel goes out to a lost and dying world, and she will come to the aid of those who need help.
Proverbs 31:20
20 She extends her hand to the poor; and stretches out her hands to the needy.

This is particularly true as it relates to other Christians.
Galatians 6:10
10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all (people), and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

God speaks about the condition of our relationship to our brothers and sisters in Christ as one way to accurately measure your love for Him.
1 John 4:20
20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates (her) brother, (she) is a liar; for the one who does not love (her) brother whom (she) has seen, cannot love God whom (she) has not seen.

Romans 12:10-13
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one ano-ther in honor;
11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord:
12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contribu- ting to the needs of the saints, (and) practicing hospitality.

There is one more thing that an older godly woman does. “Older” here refers primarily to chronological age but it certainly isn’t limited to that. It has application for spiritual age as well. What I’m saying is that a godly woman who is forty years of age may have much to teach an older woman who has just come to saving faith. Paul’s letter to Titus addresses the issue of teaching by example.
*Titus 2:1-5 (Paul is addressing both men and women in the church.)
1 But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.
2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.
3 Older women likewise (means v. 2 applies as well) are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,
4 that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own hus-bands, that the word of God may not be dishonored.

So a godly woman stands as an example to the younger women around her. What a responsibility! What a privilege! Right here in LBC there isn’t one younger woman who wouldn’t benefit from the love, concern, prayers, and personal ministry of a godly older woman. Conversely, right here in LBC, there isn’t one older woman who wouldn’t bene-fit from the love, concern, prayers, and personal ministry of a godly younger woman.

But the modern church has been losing these vital ministries. In recent years there has been a trend to segregate peoples by there chronological ages. This is particularly true in adult Sunday school classes. There are classes for young single adults, young married couples, “empty-nesters,” middle-aged couples, senior couples, senior singles, etc., etc. Church services are increasingly age-segregated by so-called “worship styles.” Every-one “worships” in his or her own way with people who dress alike, look alike, and think alike, and those of one generation hardly even know those of another generation exist.

This has the potential of being both divisive and detrimental to the church as a whole. In Titus 2:1-5 Paul doesn’t know anything about age segregation within the body of Christ. To him the church isn’t “inter-denominational,” it’s “inter-generational.” Listen, the enthusiasm and vitality of youth and the knowledge and wisdom of age need to come together, to see each other, to benefit from each other, and to learn to love each other.

Women, regardless of your respective ages, you can all minister to those of another gene-ration. You can all be reverent before God, refrain from gossip, encourage each other to love and good deeds, and be examples of true godliness to each other.

This world is in desperate need of godly women today. This is true whether they are mothers who have children at home or mothers with children who have long since left the home. It’s true whether they have grandchildren they see frequently or rarely. It’s true whether they are married or single. And it’s true whether they are in their twenties or their nineties or any age in between.

Every woman here knows that Satan’s arrows are aimed at the home, the family, and the true church. Think about it – immorality in all its forms, adultery, fornication, homosex-uality, STDs, abortion, pornography, militant feminism, illegal drug use, alcohol abuse – the list goes on and on. All these have at least four things in common.
They come from Satan, they’re on the rise, they’re destroying homes and families, and they’re spilling into the church.

Among those standing in the front lines against all of these evils are godly women. Let me say it again. This world is in desperate need of godly women. Look once more at Titus 2:3-4. Ask yourself, who is influencing the girls and young women right here at LBC today? Who is teaching them the truth about family and personal relationships? Is it the likes of Oprah, Madonna, Lindsay Lohan, and Miley Cyrus, or is it godly women who have God’s Word and His eternal values in view?

Look again at Titus 2:5. With whom are the girls and young women of our church spending their time? Are they with people who, to use the colloquialism, “celebrate diversity,” emulate the world, denigrate faith in Christ, and disdain His Word? Or are they having an opportunity to associate with people who truly love God and genuinely care for them and their futures?

And let’s be clear. It isn’t just children and their parents who need all the help they can get to stave off the incredible pressures that come down on all of us today. We all need that help. The fact is that one of God’s greatest resources to assist us in our struggles against the influences of this world and the damage it can do to all of us is godly women.

A mother’s worth, any godly woman’s worth, is found in Christ. The world may think very little of her but, in the end, that doesn’t matter at all. What matters is what her hus-band thinks of her, what her children think of her, what all those she has influenced and taught think of her, and of course, what Jesus thinks of her.
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III. Conclusion
In summary a godly woman is a Christian woman.
• She has repented of her sins and received Christ as her Lord and Savior.
• She has been set apart, that is sanctified by God.
• She is being made holy and being prepared for entrance into God’s eternal pre-sence.
• She hates evil and she stands against it.
• She is merciful and displays it in her life by acts of kindness and the giving of herself. She values other people and she worships God in spirit and in truth, and she walks with Him.

Kids, does that sound like your mom? Husbands, does that sound like your wife? I tell you, without reservation, there are godly women in this church. So I wish you a Happy Godly Mother’s Day, or a Happy Godly Wives Day, or a Happy Godly Woman’s Day! King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, said, “Your worth is far above jewels.”

~ Pray ~